Great Alaska Aviation Gathering Under the Midnight Sun

Published: March 11, 2015

Piper PA-18 Super Cub

Photo by Rob Stapleton/Courtesy of the Alaska Airmen Association

The 2015 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering will feature the best, newest and most innovative aviation related information to participants of its May 2-3 event in Anchorage. The gathering offers 275 aviation related vendors, static display of military, commercial and general aviation aircraft, and a full schedule of expert speakers throughout the weekend that promises to be exciting and useful.

The show boasts of over 23,000 pilots and aviation enthusiasts who participate in this free family aviation event. The Great Alaska Aviation Gathering currently has spots for vendors and offers special rates on hotel and rental cars for businesses wishing to participate.

The Cub raffle is the highlight of the two day gathering with the finale on Sunday May 3 at 5 p.m. Raffle tickets are currently on sale for $50 each, or five for $225 and can be obtained by calling the Alaska Airmen Association or by emailing it.

This year’s raffle plane was refurbished by Dan’s Aircraft Repair at Merrill Field in 2014 that was offered and won at last year’s raffle.

“Last year’s winner could not take the plane for personal reasons, so the board of directors agreed to buy the plane from the owner and offer it again this year,” said Dee Hanson, executive director of the association. “This is a lovely airplane that flies well and is loaded with everything to take off and head for rural Alaska or anywhere you want to take it.” The raffle Cub is currently on display in the passenger terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

The refurbished raffle Piper PA-18 Super Cub comes complete with 35 inch Alaskan Bushwheels and a baby Bushwheel tailwheel, 160 h.p. engine, LED position and landing lights, Atlee Dodge modifications needed to bush fly safely. Additionally this is one of the first Super Cubs to be fitted with Am-Safe airbag restraints.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been suggesting the installation of air bag type seat restraints since a 2006 mandate by the NTSB.

The Alaska Airmen Association is a non-profit Alaskan aviation organization with over 2,200 members in existence since 1956. This is the 18th annual trade show and convention that is supported by FedEx and UPS and many other Anchorage area businesses that donate services to make this show happen.

The Alaska Airmen Association supports aviation education and safety outreach programs statewide in Alaska with scholarships, workshops and inspirational speaking events.7,500 tickets are being offered for the raffle Cub. Tickets for the raffle Cub will be sold until just before the raffle at 5 p.m. on Sunday May 3, 2015. To purchase tickets contact the Alaska Airmen at (907) 245-1251 or 1- 800-464-7030.